Groups under Phase 1C of the state's COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan are now eligible to book appointments. This phase includes those who work in government, food service, media, legal services, energy, public safety, communications, information technology, bank tellers, construction, water and transportation.
Pennsylvania continues to make progress in vaccinating its residents who want one. Over the weekend the state reported it has now given 36-percent of its population at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. That's more than 4-million people. About 2.3-million Pennsylvanians, or about 20-percent, are now fully vaccinated.
Lehigh Valley Health Network is opening up two new vaccination sites today. A former Sears Appliance store at the Northampton Crossings shopping center in Lower Nazareth Township is now a vaccination site as is a former A.C. Moore on MacArthur Road in Whitehall. Vaccinations at these locations are by appointment only. To make an appointment, call 1-833-584-6283 or go to www.mylvhn.org.
Beginning today, anyone who lost someone to COVID-19 is able to apply to be reimbursed for funeral expenses. Families could be reimbursed up to $9000 under FEMA's funeral assistance program. Those who lost a family member to the virus will need to submit funeral expense documents and a death certificate that indicates the individual died from COVID-19. You can apply at www.fema.gov.
Penn State University is giving out more than $27-million in COVID-19 grants to its students. The money will be based on financial need and will be available for students at all Penn State campuses. Qualified students should receive an email from the office of student aid regarding their grant. It's expected to help more than 23,000 students.
A Schnecksville man who is a Carbon County corrections officer is charged with assaulting an inmate. 31-year-old Gerald Babb Jr. is charged with simple assault and other offenses for allegedly attacking a restrained inmate on February 7th. Officials say surveillance video shows the officer punching, choking and pepper-spraying the inmate. The incident led to the suspension of the jail's warden and another corrections officer.
26-year-old Abdullah Duncan is under arrest and faces numerous charges, including biting a police officer. Easton police say they were called early Sunday to the 1000 block of Elm Street for a report of a domestic-violence incident. When they arrived, Duncan was seen fleeing. After a chase, police caught Duncan, who then allegedly bit an officer's finger. Police say Duncan had a stolen gun on him at his arrest and was also being sought for two active warrants in Lehigh County.
If you have a lot of outdoor work to get done, this is not the week to do it. "It's kind of a tough, soggy stretch of weather," says Accu-Weather's Matt Benz. He says the only day this week that appears to be completely dry is tomorrow.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is approving concurrent hunting for antlered and antlerless deer for the upcoming hunting season. An initial study showed 52-percent of hunters were in favor of the plan.
The Phillies beat the Braves 7-6 in a controversial finish Sunday night. Alec Bohm scored the winning run in the 9th inning after umpires used video evidence to uphold their initial call. Didi Gregorius knocked in the winning run and said there wasn't enough evidence to overturn the call. "I don't think they had enough to overturn the call so I think that's what happened in that situation," Gregorius says. Gregorius, Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins homered for the Phillies, who visit the Mets tonight.